Dispensers for fluent masses



J1me 1966 w. B. SPATZ 3,255,935

DISPENSERS FOR FLUENT MASSES Filed March 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 IQI2 27 /24 f 22) "ll INVENTOR. "421.75,? B. 5 4

June 14, 1966 w sp -rz 3,255,935

DISPENSERS FOR FLUENT MASSES Filed March 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I}La. 5.

INVENTOR.

WQ LTEZ Ba 472 flM W United States Patent 3,255,935 DISPENSERS FORFLUENT MASSES Walter B. Spatz, 11182 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif.90049 Filed Mar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 443,444 11 Claims. (CL 222-340) Thepresent invention relates to dispensers, and more particularly toapparatus for dispensing fluent substances, such as hand-cream,toothpaste, sunburn lotion, mayonnaise, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for a fluentsubstance in which energy is first imparted to a suitable device, suchas a spring or the like, as by means of a persons hand, so that theenergized source can effect discharge of the fluent substance from thedispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser embodying acontainer for a fluent substance having a dispensing piston or followertherein, in which energy is first stored in a suitable device, such as aspring or the like, without disturbing the piston, the energy beingimparted to the spring or other device by a persons hand, and the storedenergy then being capable of shifting the piston within the container ina dispensing direction.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the typeabove indicated, in which the outlet for the container is automaticallyopened and closed while energy is being stored in the spring and duringmovement of the piston or follower in a dispensing direction.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of severalforms in which it may be embodied. Such forms are shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. These formswill now be described in detail for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the invention; but it is to be understood thatsuch detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, sincethe scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section, with parts disclosed in sideelevation, of one form of dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, disclosing parts of the dispenser inanother operative position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 33 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through still another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through yet a third ernbodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the lines 6-6 on FIG. 5.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a suitablecontainer or tube 10 of cylindrical shape is illustrated which has arear end portion 11 open to the atmosphere and a forward end wall orclosure 12. A suitable dispensing nozzle or spout 13 is located adjacentto the end wall through which a fluent mass M within the container canpass to the exterior thereof. This fluent mass is disposed between theforward endwall of closure 12 and a piston or follower 14 longitudinallymovable in the container and slidable along its inner wall 15 inleakproof relation with respect thereto.

The piston 14 can move in a forward direction only within the container,for the purpose of forcing a portion of the fluent mass M through thedispensing nozzle or spout 13. Its rearward movement in the container isprevented by a oneway gripper or brake 16 which can assume any suitableform. As disclosed, the one-way mechanism 16 is suitably secured to therear portion of the piston, as by means of rivets 17, and hascircumferentially spaced outwardly projecting fingers 18 extendingoutwardly toward the inner wall 15 of the container and inclined withrespect thereto, so as to grip the inner wall in the event the pistontends to move in a rearward direction. However, the fingers 18automatically release from the wall to permit movement of the piston ina forward direction within the container.

The piston 14 is actuated in a forward direction within the container asa result of first storing energy in a helical compression spring 19, andthen releasing the spring so that it can expand and transmit its motionto the .piston. As disclosed, the actuating mechanism for the pistonincludes a rod 20 disposed axially in the container and extendingslidably through a central bore 21 of the piston, the rear end 22 of therod terminating adjacent to the open end 11 of the container. The rodhas a reduced diameter forward portion 23 extending through the end wallor closure 12 and slidably through an outwardly projecting central boss24 integral with the end wall, the forwardrnost end of the rod beingsuitably secured to a cup-shaped plunger 25. The helical compressionspring 19, or power spring, surrounds the outer portion 23 of theactuating rod and the boss 24, its lower end bearing against the endwall 12 and its upper end bearing against the upper end of the plunger25 that has a depending skirt 26 surrounding the spring. A cylindricalshield or skirt 27 extends upwardly or forwardly from the end wall 12 toconceal the spring.

Forward movement of the rod 20 and plunger 25 relative to the container10 under the influence of the helical compression spring 19 is limitedby engagement of a stop shoulder 28 on the rod with the end wall 12.However, the plunger and rod can be pushed downwardly or rearwardly bythe plunger 25, the rod 20 being capable of passing in a downward orrearward direction freely through the piston 14. However, return orforward movement of the rod under the influence of the helical spring 19with respect to the piston is prevented by a one-way clutch or couplingdevice 29 that releasably attached the rod to the piston, so thatforward movement of the rod 20 effects forward movement of the piston 14within the container or tube 10. As disclosed, the one-way clutch 29 canbe made integral with the oneway gripper or brake device 16, andcomprises a plurality of inwardly directed radial gripping fingers 30that are inclined toward the rod in a rearward direction, with the innerends of the fingers engaging the periphery of the rod. The clutchfingers 30 will release to permit rearward or downward movement of therod 20 within the piston 14, but they will grip the rod and effect acoupling between it and the piston upon forward movement of the rodwithin the container 10.

Because of the one-way brake 16 and one-way clutch mechanism 29 mountedon the piston 14, the one-way brake will prevent rearward movement ofthe piston within the container or tube 10 by engaging the inner wall 15of the latter, which will ensure that the rod 20 can move rearwardlywithin the piston without moving the latter, the one-way clutch fingers30 automatically releasing from the rod. As the rod 20 is moved in aforward direction, the clutch fingers 30 grip the rod and couple it tothe piston, the piston moving jointly with the rod in a forwarddirection, as permitted by the automatic release of the one-way brake orlatch fingers 18 from the wall of the container.

The piston 14 is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 in an intermediate positionwithin the container 10, or after a substantial portion .of the fluentmass M has been dispensed through the nozzle or spout 13. It is to beunderstood that initially the piston will be in a rear position withinthe container, with the fluent mass filling the volume between thepiston and the forward end wall 12 of the container. When a portion ofthe mass is to be dispensed, the plunger 25 is depressed, which willshift the rod 20 rearwardly with it and energize the spring 19 bycompressing the latter. The piston 14 cannot move rearwardly in thecontainer, since such action is prevented by the one-way gripper orlatch element 16. However, the rod can move through the piston.Accordingly, depression of the plunger 25 and rod 20 effects nodispensing of the fluent mass through the spout 13. However, uponrelease of the plunger 25, the spring 19 expands and shifts the plungerand rod 20 in a forward direction, the rod becoming automaticallyclutched to the piston 14, which is automatically released from thecontainer wall 15, and the piston moving forwardly with the rod todispense a portion of the fluent mass through the spout. The amount ofmaterial M dispensed from the container corresponds to the distance thatthe plunger 25 is depressed, since the spring 19 will expand and movethe piston 14 forwardly to its initial position by the amount ofdepression of the plunger.

Each depression of the plunger 25, as by the hand of the person or byone of the fingers of the hand, will result in rearward movement of therod 20 without effecting .any dispensing, the rod merely moving freelyin a rearward direction through the piston. The release of thedepressing force on the plunger 25 will allow the spring, in whichenergy has been stored as the result of depressing the plunger, toexpand, the rod 20 automatically becoming coupled to the piston 14 andmoving the piston forwardly in the container to dispense an additionalmass of the fluent substance M in the container. With each depression ofthe plunger, the spring 19 is energized, the rod moving freely throughthe piston 14, and with each release of the plunger the energized springexpands to efifect additional forward movement of the piston within thecontainer to dispense a portion of the mass through the outlet or spout13. The piston 14 will be moved progressively in a forward directiononly until substantially all of the mass in the container has beendischarged through the nozzle or spout.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. Asdisclosed, the container 10a has a longitudinally movable piston 14therein, the periphery of which sealingly engages the inner wall a ofthe container. A power actuating rod a extends centrally through thepiston, the rod being capable of moving rearwardly within the piston,but being automatically coupled to the piston by the couplying or latchfingers 30 of the latch mechanism 29, 16 secured to the piston by therivets 17, or the like. Rearward movement of the piston in the containeris prevented by the one-way gripper or brake fingers 18 on the latterengaging the wall 15 of the container 10a rearwardly of the piston, suchfingers 18 automatically releasing from the container wall to allowforward movement of the piston in the container.

The forward end of the container is closed by an elas-' tomeric head 12adisposed over the end of the container 10a and which is secured thereto,as by means of an external rib or flange 70 of the container beingreceived within a companion internal groove 71 in the skirt portion 72of the head. Integral with the head 12a is a discharge nozzle or spout13a establishing communication between the interior of the container atits forward end and the exterior of the container.

The forward end 73 of the power rod 20a extends into a central socket 74in the head to which it is suitably secured as, for example, by means ofa rib 75 on the rod received within an internal groove 76 within thewall of the socket. The rearward end 77 of the rod bears against thebase 78 of a shallow central socket 79 in a thrust plate 80 which isurged in a forward direction by a helical compression spring 19a bearingthereagainst, and also against a spring seat 81 disposed within anenlarged diameter rearward portion 82 of the container and bearingagainst an internal flange 83 at the rear end of the latter. Forwardmovement of the thrust Plate is limited by its engagement with arearwardly facing container shoulder 84. Air at atmospheric pressure ispermitted to enter the container through vent holes 85 extending throughboth the spring seat 81 and the thrust plate 80.

The piston 14 is disclosed in an intermediate position in FIG. 4, inwhich a substantial portion of the mass M in the container forwardly ofthe piston has already been dispensed through the spout 13a. Theoperation of the device illustrated in FIG. 4 is essentially the same asthe one illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Depression of the elastomeric head12a will shift the power rod 20a in a rearward direction through thepiston 14, such rearward motion being transmitted to the thrust plate80, which will compress the helical spring 19a and store energytherewithin. The rod 20a automatically releases from the piston 14, butthe latter cannot move in a rearward direction because of the grippingaction of its one-waylatch fingers 18 against the wall 15a of thecontainer. Upon release of the finger or other pressure upon theelastomeric head, the latter inherently tends to expand and return toits initial position, and the spring 19a also expands to shift the rod20a in a forward direction, the one-way clutch 29 automatically couplingthe rod to the piston 14 and causing the piston to move forwardly withthe rod to dispense a portion of the mass M through the nozzle or spout13a to the exterior of the container.

Each depression of the head 12a will store energy in .it as well as inthe compression spring 19a, the rod 20a moving freely in a rearwarddirection through the piston, whereas release of the depressing force onthe head 12a will allow the latter to expand to its initial position andalso allow the spring 19a to expand, moving the power orforce-transmitting rod 20a in a forward direction and, through theone-way clutch or coupling 29, correspondingly moving the piston in aforward direction within the container.

If the elastomeric head 12a possesses suflicient spring force to actuatethe mechanism, the spring 19a, seat 81 and thrust plate 80 can beomitted, release of the inward pressure on the head causing the latterto return inherently to its initial position and shifting the power rod20a forwardly with it, the one-way clutch 29 causing the piston 14 tomove forwardly with the power rod and dispense a portion of the fluentmass through the outlet or nozzle 13a.

In the form of invention disclosed in FIG. 5, a cylindrical container10b has a forward end wall 12b containing a discharge nozzle or spout13b disposed axially thereof and having an outlet surrounded by atapered valve seat 90. The power or force transmitting rod 20b extendsthrough the piston 14 disposed in the container 10b, there being thesame type of one-way clutch 29 and one-way or unidirectional gripper orbrake 16 between the rod 20b and piston 14, and between the piston andthe inner wall 151) of the container, as in the other forms of theinvention. The container is open at its rear end 11b to the atmosphereand the rear end of the rod 22b terminates adjacent to the open rear endof the container.

The rod 20b is shifted longitudinally of the container by a bell-cranklever 91 which extends through an aperture 92 in the rear portion of thecontainer, being pivoted therein. One arm 93 of the bell crank lever isbifurcated, the bifurcations straddling the rod and extending into agroove 94 in the latter. The other arm 95 of the lever is disposedexternally of the container and extends along its periphery, there beinga leaf spring 96 or power spring suitably secured to the external leverarm 95 with a free end 97 of the leaf spring bearing against theexterior of the container. The spring 96 normally urges the external arm95 laterally outwardly and the inner arm 93 of the lever upwardly, toshift the rod 20b upwardly and engage a forward valve head 98 providedby the upper end of the rod against the valve seat 90, to close theoutlet from the container.

The dispenser device illustrated in FIG. 5 operates generally in thesame manner as the other forms of the invention. The piston 14 isdisclosed in an intermediate position within the container, from which asubstantial portion of the fluent mass has already been dispensed.

Initially, the piston would be located in the rearward portion of thecontainer adjacent to the bifurcated bell crank arm 93. When it isdesired to dispense a portion of the mass through the container outlet,the outer arm 95 of the bell-crank lever is moved laterally inwardlyagainst the force of the leaf spring -by hand or finger pressure, whichcauses the rod b to be shifted rearwardly and slide through the piston14, which is prevented from moving rearwardly by the one-way brakedevice 16. Such rod shifting also removes the valve head 98 from thevalve seat 90, thereby opening the container outlet. When the pressureon the outer arm 95 is released, a leaf spring expands or returns to itsinitial position, shifting the outer arm 95 laterally away from theexterior of the container and the bifurcated arm 93 upwardly to shiftthe rod 20b upwardly in the container, and because of the one-way clutch29 becoming automatically coupled thereto, shift the piston 14 upwardlyin the container. The piston 14 and rod 20b move upwardly to effect adispensing of the fluent mass M through the outlet 13b until the valvehead 98 engages the valve seat 90, thereby closing the outlet. Theengagement of the valve head with thevalve seat limits the extent of thelateral outward movement of the bell-crank external arm 95 and upwardshifting of the rod 20b and the piston 14.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having anoutlet opening directly to the exterior of said container, saidcontainer being of a size to be held in a persons hand; piston means insaid container movable in a forward direction toward said outlet andagainst the mass in the container; means for resisting movement of saidpiston means in said container in a rearward direction while permittingmovement of said piston means in a forward direction; hand-operatedactuating means in said container and disposed to one side of saidoutlet to avoid interference with the mass flowing through said outlet;spring means for shifting said actuating means in a forward direction insaid container; and clutching means for coupling said piston means tosaid actuating means for forward movement therewith while permittingrearward movement of said actuating means relative tosaid piston means.

2. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having anoutlet opening directly to the exterior of said container, saidcontainer being of a size to be held in a persons hand; a piston in saidcontainer movable in a forward direction toward said outlet and againstthe mass in the container; one-way gripper means on said pistonengageable with the wall of said container to resist rearward movementof said piston in said container while permitting forward movement ofsaid piston in said container; a hand-operated actuating rod in saidcontainer extending through said piston and disposed to one side of saidoutlet to avoid interference with the mass flowing through said outlet;spring means for shifting said rod in a forward direction insaidcontainer; and one-way clutching means on said piston engageablewith said rod to couple said piston to said rod for forward movementtherewith, said clutching means releasing from said rod to permitrearward movement of said rod within and relative to said piston.

3. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end wall and an outlet at said end wall opening to the exteriorof said container, said container being of a size to be held in apersons hand; piston means in said container movable in a forwarddirection toward said end wall and outlet and against the mass in saidcontainer; means for resisting movement of said piston means in saidcontainer in a rearward direction while permitting movement of saidpiston means in a forward direction toward said end wall; actuatingmeans having a first portion in said container and a hand-operated sec-0nd portion externally of said container; spring means externally ofsaid container engaging said second portion and container for shiftingsaid first portion in a forward direction in said container; andclutching means for coupling said piston means to said first portion forforward movement therewith toward said end wall while permittingrearward movement of said first portion relative to said piston means.

4. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end wall and an outlet at said end wall opening to the exteriorof said container, said container being of a size to be held in apersons hand; a piston in said container movable in a forward directiontoward said end wall and outlet and against the mass in said container;one-way gripper means on said piston engageable with the wall of saidcontainer to resist rearward movement of said piston in said containerwhile permitting forward movement of said piston in said containertoward said end wall; an actuating rod in said container extendingthrough said piston; spring operated means externally of said containeradapted to be actuated by the persons hand while the container is heldin the persons hand for shifting said rod in a forwarddirection in saidcontainer; and one-way clutching means on said piston engageable withsaid rod to couple said piston to said rod for forward movementtherewith toward said end wall, said clutching means releasing from saidrod to permit rearward movement of said rod within and relative to saidpiston.

5. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end Wall and an outlet at said end wall opening to the exteriorof said container, said container being of a size to be held in apersons hand; a piston in said container movable in a forward directiontoward said end wall and outlet and against the mass in said container;one-way gripper means on said piston engageable with the wall of saidcontainer to resist rearward movement of said piston in said containerwhile permitting forward movement of said piston in said containertoward said end Wall; an actuating rod in said container extendingthrough said piston; spring operated means externally of said containerbearing against said end wall and engaging said rod for shifting saidrod in a forward direction in said container toward said end wall; andone-way clutching means on said piston engageable with said rod tocouple said piston to said rod for forward movement therewith towardsaid end wall, said clutching means releasing from said rod to permitrearward movement of said rod within and relative to said piston.

6. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end wall and an outlet at said end wall opening to the exteriorof said container, said container being of a size to be held in apersons hand; a piston in said container movable in a forward directiontoward said end wall and outlet and against the mass in said container;one-way gripper means on said piston engageable with the Wall of saidcontainer to resist rearward movement of said piston in said containerwhile permitting forward movement of said piston in said containertoward said end wall; an actuating rod in said container extendingthrough said piston; actuating means including a compression springbearing against the exterior of said container for shifting said rod ina forward direction in said container toward said outlet and forward endwall; and one-way clutching means on said piston engageable with saidrod to couple said piston to said rod for forward movement therewithtoward said end wall, said clutching means releasing from said rod topermit rearward movement of said rod within and relative to said piston.

7. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end wall and an outlet at said end wall opening to the exteriorof said container, said container being of a ,size to be held in apersons hand; a piston in said container movable in a forward directiontoward said end wall and outlet and against the mass in said container;one-way gripper means on said piston engageable with the wall of saidcontainer to resist rearward movement of said piston in said containerwhile permitting forward movement of said piston in said containertoward said end wall; an actuating rod in said container extendingthrough said piston; a hand-operated plunger secured to said rodexternally of said end wall; a compression spring bearing against saidend wall and plunger for shifting said rod in a forward direction insaid container toward said forward end wall; and oneway clutching meanson said piston engageable with said .rod to couple said piston to saidrod for forward movement therewith toward said end wall, said clutchingmeans releasing from said rod to permit rearward movement of said rodwithin and relative to said piston upon depression of said plungertoward said end wall.

8. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward elastic end wall and an outlet; a piston in said containermovable in a forward direction toward said end wall and outlet andagainst the mass in said container; one-way gripper means on said pistonengageable with the wall of said container to resist rearward movementof said piston in said container while permitting forward movement ofsaid piston in said container toward said end wall; an actuating rod insaid container extending through said piston and connected to saidelastic end Wall, depression of said end Wall toward said pistonshifting said rod in a rearward direction in said container and releaseof pressure on said end wall allowing its expansion and shifting of saidrod in a forward direction in said container; and one-way clutchingmeans on said piston engageable with said rod to couple said piston tosaid rod for forward movement therewith toward said end wall, saidclutching means releasing from said rod to permit rearward movement ofsaid rod within and relative to said piston.

9. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward elastic end wall and an outlet; a piston in said containermovable in a forward direction toward said end wall and outlet andagainst the mass in said container; one-way gripper means on said pistonengageable with the wall of said container to resist rearward movementof said piston in said container while permitting forward movement ofsaid piston in said container toward said end wall; an actuating rod insaid container extending through saidpiston and connected to saidelastic end wall, depression of said end wall toward said pistonshifting said rod in a rearward direction in said container and releaseof pressure on said end wall allowing its expansion and shifting of saidrod in a forward direction in said container; spring operated meansengaging a rear portion of said rod for shifting said rod in a forwarddirection in said container; and one-way clutching means on said pistonengageable with said rod to couple said piston to said rod for forwardmovement therewith toward said end wall, said clutching means releasingfrom said rod to permit rearward movement of said rod within andrelative to said piston.

10. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end wall and an outlet; a

piston in said container movable in a forward direction toward said endwall and outlet and against the mass in said container; one-way grippermeans on said piston engageable with the wall of said container toresist rearward movement of said piston in said container whilepermitting forward movement of said piston in said container toward saidend wall; an actuating rod in said container extending through saidpiston; a lever pivoted on said container and connected to said rod; aspring engaging the side of said container and lever for shifting saidrod in a forward direction in said container; and one-way clutchingmeans on said piston movable with said rod to couple said piston to saidrod for forward movement therewith toward said end wall, said clutchingmeans releasing from said rod to permit rearward movement of said rodwithin and relative to said piston.

11. In a dispenser for a fluent mass: a container for the mass having aforward end wall and an outlet; a piston in said container movable in aforward direction toward said end wall and outlet and against the massin said container; one-way gripper means on said piston engageable withthe wall of said container to resist rearward movement of said piston insaid container while permitting forward movement of said piston in saidcon! tainer toward said end wall; an actuating rod in said containerextending through said piston; spring operated References Cited by theExaminer" UNITED STATES PATENTS 677,667 7/ 1901 Kirschen 2223871,212,010 1/1917 Brown. 1,847,188 3/1932 Kreidel 222--39.1 X 2,356,8748/1944 Nageotte 222-391 X 2,710,119 6/1955 Steek 22234O FOREIGN PATENTS920,437 4/1947 France.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiners.

1. IN A DISPENSER FOR A FLUENT MASS: A CONTAINER FOR THE MASS HAVING ANOUTLET OPENING DIRECTLY TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER, SAIDCONTAINER BEING OF A SIZE TO BE HELD IN A PERSON''S HAND; PISTON MEANSIN SAID CONTAINER MOVABLE IN A FORWARD DIRECTION TOWARD SAID OUTLET ANDAGAINST THE MASS IN THE CONTAINER; MEANS FOR RESISTING MOVEMENT OF SAIDPISTON MEANS IN SAID CONTAINER IN A REARWARD DIRECTION WHILE PERMITTINGMOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON MEANS IN A FORWARD DIRECTION; HAND-OPERATEDACTUATING MEANS IN SAID CONTAINER AND DISPOSED TO ONE SIDE OF SAIDOUTLET TO AVOID INTERFERENCE WITH THE MASS FLOWING THROUGH SAID OUTLET;SPRING MEANS FOR SHIFTING SAID ACTUATING MEANS IN A FORWARD DIRECTION INSAID CONTAINER; AND CLUTCHING MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID PISTON MEANS TOSAID ACTUATING MEANS FOR FORWARD MOVEMENT THEREWITH WHILE PERMITTINGREARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID PISTON MEANS.